I am not feeling very social - well I never do as you know! However, last evening Keith popped round and winkled us out of our shell to have a small apéro in their bijou rental in the vines. We were actually second choice - the Kaisers had refused🤗 But we’re not proud. Anyway it was a warm, not to say hot, evening and interesting to go to a neutral environment - a modern flat with pool, attached to the owners‘ house, where we were greeted by a group of geese being shepherded into their enclosure. Liz had warned they were potentially aggressive but I don’t think so really. We left at dusk and had a new view of the village all illuminated with a backdrop of dramatic clouds.
Today dawned sunny and warm again and after a lateish breakfast the decision was made to go up to Durban to see if Adrian could manage the walk. First stopping at Beaumes U to get water filters. A woman in front of us at the till was actually doing her veg shopping as she was checking out! Totally unconcerned for the vast queue growing behind her as she popped back and forth to gather odd vegetables. I took the opportunity to snap the jolly array of squashes by the door.
We drove up to our usual spot under the pines by the vines and set off. There was a chap - and a Berlingo tucked away along the track with table and chairs- pottering up and down with coffee mug in hand but other than that no one. Not even any pickers. A quick inspection showed that most of the vines have already been done. It was a nice walk towards Lafare and then up the slopes and back down. Wonderful views, quiet. Only one tractor hidden in a dip and still some unharvested rows of grapes.
We rewarded ourselves with a drink in the Café du Siècle in Beaumes - lucky to get a table in fact. The market was packing up and it was actually hot. Still lots of tourists about.
There‘s a stiff north wind getting up now but this is not deterring men on the roof down the road! Tiles are being removed and stacked up and roof beams revealed…
